Device for cutting sheet materials



' w. L. DORR. DEVICE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIALS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6 l9l9.

Patented May 3,1921.

UNITED STATES WILLARD L. DORE, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIALS.

Application filed September 6, 1919.

T 0 all to ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD L. Dona, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of innebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Cutting Sheet Materials, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains in general to the cutting of sheet material of various kinds; and while the principles of my invention are applicable to various uses in this respect, they are intended primarily for embodiment in a hand operated device for cutting or trimming the edges of an envelop, that is, for opening a sealed envelop such as is received through the mail.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple device by means of which envelops and similar articles may be expeditiously opened, leaving the contents intact. (Jenerally stated, my invention comprehends the provision of a handle shaped to be grasped in one hand of the user and to provide a longitudinal slot for receiving an edge of the envelop and guiding it with respect to a cutting means mounted on the handle for cutting off a narrow edge of the envelop. The cooperating parts are arranged and constructed in such novel manner that with the device in one hand and an envelop in the other, one edge of the envelop may be severed in a fine cutting operation, performed very quockly by simply drawing the hands in opposite directions and holding the envelop in the guide slot so that it will properly move past the cutting means.

\Vith respect to the cutting means, one feature and object of my invention is to provide a circular cutter, continuously revolved during the cutting operation so as to present an ever-changing cutting edge which has a. keen and sharp cutting effect and enables either a long or short cut to be made very rapidly without danger of the mate rial bunching or piling up before the cutter, as i variably results in the use of those types of cutting devices employing simply a stationary cutting blade, the edge of which is quickly dulled. Another object of my invention in this connection resides in the provision of novel means for causing the cireular cutter to be revolved. Such rotation of the cutter is obtained from movement of the envelop or other sheet material being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Serial No. 322,033.

trimmed. Furthermore, my invention contemplates causing the circular cutter to revolve bymovement of the envelop prior to presenting the envelop to such cutter. The result is that when the envelop reaches the cutter the latter is in motion and adapted to effect the best cutting action.

Another important object of my invention is to provide means on the handle for making an initial out which will be immediately continued by the rotary cutter. By this means the cut may be easily started regardless of whether the edge of the envelop is bruised or broken. In the present illustration of my improvements, this initial cut is obtained by manipulating a trigger-like leverwith one of the fingers of the hand grasping the handle to move a blade carried by such lever in a shearing action.

Another object resides in the provision of novel means for constantly urging an envelop toward the cutting means as the envelop is drawn past the same.

Still another object is to provide a handtrimming device of the character mentioned, which will perform the desired functions in a thoroughly practical and satisfactory manner, and which includes such principles of operation and construction as to be capable of being manufactured at a comparativcly low cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in a which- Figure 1 is a side elevation-of a cutting device embodying my improvements; I

Figs. 2 and 3, top and bottom views respectively, of the cutting device;

Fig. 4, a section taken on the line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary perspective view of the cutter driving wheel and spring presser foot operating therewith;

Figs. 6, 7 8 and 9, enlarged sectional views taken on the lines 66, 7-7, 8-8 and 99, respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10, a perspective view illustrating the use of my improvements; and

Fig. 11, a detail cross-sectional view taken on the section 1111 of Fig. 1.

.The cutting device illustrated comprises a handle designated generally by the character .12, constituting the main body, and is shaped to provide a guide slot 13 in one side extending substantially from end to end of the handle. In this guide slot an envelop is guided past the cutting means carried by the body. The bodymay be of any suitable shape and material, although it is preferred to shape one end so as to provide a convenient hand grasp, the opposite end suitable for carrying the cutting means, and in one side the straightslot 13, the mouth of which is relatively wide, as shown in Fig. 11, and converges to the narrow slotway proper. This construction facilitates entrance of an envelop into the guide slot, insures steady and accurate guiding of the envelop by reason of the restricted narrow dimensions of the slot proper, and enables free movement of an envelop relatively to the handle without interference or obstruction by the fingers of the hand grasping the handle. It is proposed that the handle be grasped in the right hand and an envelop in the left, as shown in Fig. 10, that the envelop be inserted in the slot 13 and held stationary, and that the right hand be drawn rearwardly to sever the confined edge of the envelop by cutting means which will now be described.

The cutting elements in the present illustration of my improvements consists of a rotary circular cutter, designated generally by character 14, and a shearing blade 15. The cutter 14 is freely revoluble and con centric with a cutter driving wheel 16 on a stud or pivot pin 17 screwed into a body part 18, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. The cutter 14 and wheel 16 revolve together by reason of the pin connection 19 thercbetween. The side 21 of the cutter 14 is flat and parallel with the slotway 13, the vertical plane of which is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8. The opposite side or face of the cutter is beveled to provide a keen circular cutting edge. A presser foot 22 underlies and is constantly urged upwardly against the periphery of the cutter driving wheel 16. This presser foot, preferably of spring material, is attached by means of the screw 23 to the body, and by reason of its shape and engagement with the stationary pin 24, its free end, (shaped for a short a distance to conform to the periphery of the wheel 16) is yieldingly urged against said periphery. The downturned end 26 of the presser foot constitutes with the periphery of the wheel 16, amouth 26 in the horizontal plane of the guide slot 13, into which mouth the envelop is introduced when starting to cut. Viewing Fig. 5, it will be observed that the periphery of the wheel 16 is knurled to provide teeth inclined with re spect to the pivotal axis for the purpose of urging the envelop toward the circular cutter 14. That is, an envelop introduced into the mouth and moved lengthwise in the slot guide 13, past the cutter, will be pressed against the knurled periphery of the wheel 16 by the spring presser foot 22, thereby causing the'wheel 16, and consequently the cutter 14, to revolve, and during this rotation the inclined teeth on the periphery of the wheel 16 will constantly urge the envelop laterally into alinement with the circular cutting wheel, thus counteracting any tendency of the envelop from working away from the cutter.

The cutting operation is effected by the cobperative action of the cutters 14 and 15 above mentioned, the latter of which is mounted in a peculiar and advantageous relation to the circular cutter, as will be presently seen. This cutting or shearing blade 15, seated in a pocket 27 in a lever 28, is held in position by an adjusting or tension screw 29, which urges the blade 15 against the wall 31 of the body. 7 Asshown in Fig. 1, the cutting edge of the blade 15 is inclined downwardly and toward the handle end of the body and the upper end of the cutting edgeoverlaps the face 21 of the circular cutter at 32. The opposite end 33 of the cutting blade 15 bears against the surface 31, as mentioned above, while a clearance is allowed between. the end portion 32 of the cutting blade and the wall 81, as plainly shown in Fig. 7. Furthermore, the surface 31 is inclined with respect to the plane of the face 21 so that the cutter 15' is laterally inclined relatively to the circular cutting wheel. This in plainly shown in Figs. 4, 6'and 7. By reason of the fore- 7 arranged as to provide ample clearance for the material after leaving the cutters, thus facilitating and promoting sharp, lreen and rapid cutting action.

My invention also contemplates moving the blade 15 relatively to the circular cutter in a shearing action for the purpose of starting-to out in a positive manner and preventing bunching of the material before the circular cutter, as frequently happens in the use of prior cutting devices, especially because they are easily dulled or because the edge of the material being cut is wrinkled or damaged. To this end, the lever 28 is movable pivotally about the screw bolt 23 by finger actuationof the trigger end 34 of said lever. by a pin 37 carried thereby and engaged in Movement of this lever is limited 7 a slot 36in the body structure, as shown plainly in Figs. 1 and 9. The spring presser foot, by reason of its engagement with the pin 24:, serves in addition tothe function mentioned above, to constantly urge the lever 28 to its lowermost position.

It will be manifest that with the cutting device grasped in the right hand as shownin Fig. 10, the trigger end 34 of the lever 28 is so arranged as to be conveniently engaged by the second finger and to be drawn upwardly to actuate the blade 15 in a shearing action. It will be further observed, viewing Fig. 1, that the free end of the presser foot is shaped to engage the knurled periphery of the wheel 16 in advance of the cutting edge, that is, the point at which edges of the cutters 14 and 15 intersect.

Thus, in starting to out, if the trigger 34 is not actuated to efi'ect an initial cut, the circular cutter 14 will be caused to revolve prior to the entrance of the envelop between the cutting edges. It follows that the circular cutter is continuously revolved at all times during the cutting operation, and by commencing the rotation prior to the actual cutting, the start of the cut is facilitated, although to insure a positive starting out, it is preferred that the trigger 34.- be actuated to make the initial cut, whereupon this trigger may be released and the device drawn along the envelop to complete the cut by means of the rotating and stationary blades. A suitable guard 35 protects the hand from the sharp edge of the circular cutter, although it will be manifest that the handle might be so shaped that this cutter is fully covered thereby. By arranging the cutters in the cooperative manner described, that is, with the cutter blade 15 disposed in transverse angular relation to the circular cutter and with the cutting edges intersecting so as to cause a shearing engagement, a resharpening effect is produced which increases the efficiency and longevity of the device.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the principles and objects prefaced above, and while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment thereof, it should be understood that my improvements are adapted for cutting other materials and articles than the ordinary paper envelops and that the construction and arrangement might be considerably modified to suit manufacturing conditions and needs at hand without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as me pressed in the appended claims, in which- I claim: p

1. The combination of a handle having a guideway for sheet material, a circular cutter for cutting material that is moved along said guideway, and 'means laterally offset from and having an annular roughened surface concentric with the cutter and actuated bymovement of the sheet material for revolving the cutter.

2. A hand cutter of the character described, comprising a handle having a slot for guiding an edge of the'material to be trimmed, a circular cutter on the handle above said slot, a shearing blade below said slot and in cooperative relation to the circular cutter, and a trigger carrying saidblade and adapted to be actuated by one of the fingers of the hand grasping the handle.

3. A device of the character described for trimming the edge of sheet material comprising a handle having a guide slot in one side thereof arranged so that the hand grasping the handle does not interfere with free movement of a sheet of material guided lengthwise along the slot, a circular cutter on the handle intersecting said slotway for trimming an edge of the material, and means actuated by movement of the material along the guide slot for revolving the cutter.

4. A device of the character described for trimming the edge of sheet material comprising a handle having a guide slot in one side thereof arranged so that the hand grasping the handle does not interfere with free movement of a sheet of material guided lengthwise along the slot, a circular cutter on thehandle intersecting said slotway for trimming an edge of the material, a fingeractuable lever carried by the handle, and a shearing blade on said lever adapted to be actuated independently of the circular cutter for cutting purposes.

5. A device of the character described for trimming the edge of sheet material comprising a handle having a guide slot in one side thereof arranged so that the hand grasping the handle does not interfere with free movement of a sheet-ofmaterial guided lengthwise along the slot, a circular cutter on the handle intersecting said slotway for trimming an edge of the material, a shearing blade acting jointly with, said circular cutter for trimmingthe edge of said material, and finger-actnable means for actuating said blade independent of movement of the circular cutter for starting the cut.

, 6. A device of the character described for trimming the edge of sheet material comprising a handle having a guide slot in one side thereof arranged so that the hand grasping, the handle does not interfere with free movement of a sheet of material guided lengthwise along the slot, a circular cutter on the handle intersecting said slotway for trimming an edge of the material, a cutter driving Wheel hired to the circular cutter, and means forurging the sheet material against the periphery of said Wheel for causing the cutter to be revolved when the sheet material is moved lengthwise in the slotway past said cutter.

7. A hand cutter of the character described comprising a handle having a slot in one side thereof for guiding the edge of the material to be trimmed, and cutting means on the handle including a principal rotary cutting element and an auxiliary straight edge cutting element for starting the cut.

8i A hand cutter of the character described comprising a handle having a slot in one side thereof for guiding the edge of the material to be trimmed, cutting means on the handle including a circular cutter and an auxiliary straight edge cutting blade in cooperation therewith, and finger-actuable means for moving said auxiliary cutting blade to start the cut.

9. A device of cutting sheet material comprising a handle, a circular cutter mounted thereon, a finger-actuable lever equipped with a straight edge cutting blade in cooperative relation to the circular cutter, and means on the handle for guiding the sheet material between said blade and cutter, the blade being independently actuable for cutting purposes. r I

10, In a cutting device of the character described, the combination of a handle equipped with a circular cutter, a cutter driving wheel, means for guiding an edge of the material which is to be trimmed by 'said cutter, and means for yieldingly urging said material against said wheel whereby to rotate the cutter by movement of the material past the cutter.

11. Ina cutting device of the character described, a handle equipped with a circular cutter and a cutter driving wheel, the periphery of which is knurled in such manner as to urge the material being out, toward cutting edge of which is substantially in the plane of said s1ot,land a cutting blade dissaid circular cutter.

12. A cutting device of the character described comprising a circular cutter, a cutter driving wheel in juxtaposition thereto, a part yieldingly urged toward the periphery of the cutter driving wheel so as'to provide with the latter a throat in advance of the cutting edge of said cutter, and means for guiding the material to be cut into said throat, whereby it is urged against the cutter driving wheel and in its movement toward the cutter will cause the latter to be rotated before the materialreaches the, cutting edges. 13. In a cutting device of the character described, the combination of a handle having a slot for guiding the edge of the sheet 'material to be trimmed, a-circular cutter, the

posed in a substantially tangential relation to said circular cutting blade and in proximity thereto and inclinedslightly in a di-' rection transverse to the planeof said circular cutter, thematerial guided by said slot being movable between the adjacent edges of said circular cutter and blade.

14. In a hand cutting device of the character described, a circular cutter and a cutter driving member rotatable together, a spring presser foot for urging the sheet material to be out against said member to rotate the same by movement of said material, and a cutter in cooperative relation to the circular cutter and urged in a direction away therefrom by pressure'of said spring presser foot.

15.. Ina hand cutting device ofthe character described, a circular cutter, a shearing blade in cooperative relation thereto, a cutter-driving wheel, and a spring member for urging against said wheel the material to be cut and also tending to move the shearing blade relatively to the circular cutter.

1 16. A cutting device comprising a handle having a guide-slot in one side, a circular cutter on the handle intersecting the slotway, and a cutterdriving wheel co-axial and fixed with respect to the cutter and adapted to engage the material and be revolved thereby as it is drawn past the cutter.

17 A hand cutting device of the character described comprising a handle having a slot in one side thereof for guiding the edge of material to be trimmed, a circular cutter on the handle, and a straight-edge blade arranged with its cutting edge overlapping the circular cutter and in a plane angular with respect to that of said'cutter. 18. A hand cutter of the character described comprisinga handle body having a guideway for guiding the edge of material to be trimmed, a circular cutter intersecting said guideway-,'a shearing blade in cooperative relation to the circular cutter, a support for said blade mounted for movement upon the handle body, and a spring for moving said blade support relatively to the circular cutter. V

19. Ina cutting device of the character described, the combination of a handle body having means for guiding the edge of material to be trimmed, a circular cutter on the handle body having a plane side and a beveledge side, a'cutter-driving wheel fixed to the cutter at the plane side thereof, and a cutting element cooperating with the straight side of the circular cutter. 20; A hand-cutting device of the character described comprising a handle body havdescribed, a handle equipped with a circular cutter and having means for guiding sheet material past the cutter, and means frictionally engaging the material and in driving connection with the cutter for revolving the latter by movement of the material.

22. In a cutting device of the character described, the combination of a circular cutter, means for guiding sheet material as it is moved past the cutter, and means actuated by movement of said material for transmitting rotary movement to said cutter before the material reaches the cutting edge thereof.

23. In a cutting device of the character described, the combination of a handle body having a slot for guiding the edge of material to be trimmed, a circular cutter on the handle body intersecting the slotvvay, a shearing blade overlapping and cooperating With the edge of the circular cutter so that the cutting is effected by the joint action of said cutter and blade, and a threaded member adapted to be tightened for urging the blade against the cutter.

WILLARD L. DORR. 

